Thursday, March 15, 2012

Corsair Artisan Distillery Joins KDA.

Corsair Artisan Distillery today announced that it has joined the ranks
of the Kentucky Distillers’ Association, the Commonwealth’s foremost voice on spirits issues for
more than 130 years.

“Corsair is one of the largest and most innovative craft distilleries in Kentucky, and we’ve been
impressed with their growing portfolio of brands,” said Jeff Conder, Chairman of the KDA Board of
Directors and Vice President of Americas Operations for Beam, Inc.
“Our craft members are an important part of our organization and an emerging industry in the state,
and we are happy to welcome Corsair to the KDA,” Conder said.

Corsair, located in Bowling Green’s historic town square, was founded in 2008 by friends Darek
Bell and Andrew Webber. A second distillery in Nashville, TN, was added mid-2010. Bell and
Webber focus on producing very small runs of premium spirits, combining traditional recipes and
unusual techniques and ingredients.
Products include Triple Smoke American Single Malt Whiskey, 100 percent Rye Whiskey, Wry
Moon Unaged Rye Whiskey, Pumpkin Spice Moonshine and Corsair Gin and Barrel Aged Gin.

“This region is the heart of American distilling, producing spirits recognized around the globe as
some of the world’s best,” Webber said. “KDA members distill products that represent America
worldwide. We’re hugely honored to join.”
Corsair becomes KDA’s 11th member and the fifth Kentucky craft distillery to join.

The KDA is a non-profit trade association founded in 1880. Members include Beam Inc. (Jim Beam
and Maker’s Mark), Brown-Forman, Diageo North America, Four Roses, Heaven Hill Distilleries,
Inc., and Wild Turkey.
Craft distillery members include Alltech, Barrel House Distilling Co., MB Roland Distillery and
Limestone Branch.

The KDA’s craft membership is available to licensed Kentucky distillers that maintain an inventory
of less than 25,000 barrels of distilled beverage spirits, according to KDA President Eric Gregory.
“Our members can trace their Kentucky roots back generations to small, family-owned distilleries
that today are global icons,” Gregory said. “It’s with great pride that the KDA welcomes Corsair
Artisan and our craft partners in keeping this tradition alive.
“We look forward to working with Corsair Artisan to promote our rich heritage, to advocate fair
treatment of our industry and to continue our commitment to responsible drinking.”

There is no generally accepted definition. It's mostly just a useful shorthand way to refer to small producers. The KDA has its definition. Most people seem to know that's what it means. As for the question of are small producers necessarily superior in the sense that 'craft' implies, I've asked that since the beginning.